Training in Perinatal Medicine

PROJECT SUMMARY The primary goal of this Training Program is to develop academic leaders among Neonatologists, Maternal- Fetal Medicine (MFM) Specialists, and Non-Clinician Scientists who know how to work together collaboratively and have the capacity, based on personal meritorious accomplishments in research, to identify, understand, and solve important problems in Perinatal Biology and Medicine. This training program provides basic and clinical-translational research training, including concepts and techniques in perinatal/developmental physiology, biochemistry, and cell and molecular biology. To our knowledge, ours is the only T32 Training Program designed with this focus, structure, and goal. Trainees will be appointed after demonstrating research commitment and accomplishment during their late 1st or 2nd yr of fellowship/postdoctoral training. During their 1st year, trainees work with Faculty Mentors on their primary research projects while integrating into the broader perinatal biology community at CU-AMC through our T32 Curriculum. This gives them the multidisciplinary training required in Perinatal Biology. Formal training in Responsible Conduct of Research and Rigorous Research Design and Relevant Data Science and Quantitative Approaches are required. The 2nd year is devoted to the completion of the research projects, manuscript submission, expansion of the Fellow's research with interdisciplinary approaches, and further career development training. Seminar programs in research design, abstract and manuscript preparation, laboratory and career management, and grant writing are provided. This approach allows us to fulfill our two Specific Aims. Our primary specific aim is to provide the training and environment that ensures short- and long-term success of T32 Fellows as defined by: 1) publications, 2) appointment to research-intensive positions, 3) Career Development Awards, 4) Pilot and Project Grants, 5) research based awards and honors, and 6) Scientific Leadership Positions. Our secondary specific aim is to further strengthen the research endeavors related to Perinatal Biology and Medicine at CU-AMC as defined by 1) collaborative manuscripts with T32 Fellows, 2) co-mentorship of Trainees, 3) joint grant submissions, and 4) joint establishment of innovative programs. This aim directly benefits the T32 Fellows as it models the type of collaborative research we want them to engage in long-term. We also will place a major emphasis on the recruitment of NIH defined underrepresented minorities to our T32 Program with supplemental research and career development funds ($12,000 per URM Trainee) provided by the Section of Neonatology. Our approach equips the trainees with the capacity to move more successfully into academic careers in either basic or clinical-translational science. Over many years, graduates of this training program have achieved high academic positions nationally and internationally and have had major impact on developing and supporting research training programs. Attaining such ultimate research/academic leadership among our trainees is a major aim of this program.